Complimentary cookies and hot chocolate will be available. We will be offering free zip line rides and a petting zoo. Pony rides are available for $3.00 a person during Thanksgiving Day weekend and also the first weekend of December.

Fresh Fraser Fir wreaths, roping, and a variety of potted trees, 7 and 10 gallon, will be on sale, too.

On the first weekend in December, we will be donating $10 a tree to a local youth group and service in the fields the first Saturday in December.

We also have a variety of pre-cut trees that will be displayed and can sell these after dark BY APPOINTMENT ONLY. Please call 231-839-7074, to schedule today, or you may make an APPOINTMENT Monday through Thursday if you would like to cut your own.

Lastly, we will be offering complimentary drilling and baling on Friday and Saturday. Trees 10 foot and over will be baled on Saturday.

Saturday, October 20, 2012

As I sit here sipping on my hot chocolate and watching the marshmallows slowly melt one by one, I am reminded Christmas is quickly approaching. The creamy chocolate aroma brings back memories of Christmases past, of giving, of family and of love.
Every year Dutchman Christmas Tree Farms looks for ways to brighten the holiday season by starting that spirit of giving early. This year we are giving away a free beautiful Fraser Fir Christmas wreath every week leading up to Christmas. Every Monday we will be changing our cover photo on our Facebook page. You can enter your name 3 times into each week's raffle by following these steps:

Like the picture.

Share the picture

Leave a comment

Drawings will be held on Saturdays at the end of each week and posted to our Facebook page. We would love to hear from you.

Wednesday, October 10, 2012

Buyer's remorse lurks around every corner. Sometimes it can take the fun out of shopping because we know as soon as we buy something, we will find a better deal. Don't give up. This year I will let you in on one of Christmas's best kept secrets.

Located in northern Michigan, Dutchman Tree Farms has been blessed with many excellent years of Christmas tree growing. This year was no different. So with only about two months left till Christmas it has been decided, here on the farm, to give our loyal fans some excellent opportunities for discounts and free Christmas wreaths.

To receive 10% off your entire online Christmas tree order all you have to do is use the promotional code "HASSLEFREE". You can place your orders now and check it off your Christmas To Do List. The real Christmas tree will be shipped to your front door.

If you want to be eligible to win a free Christmas Wreath keep an eye on our Facebook Page.

Each week we will post a graphic for the weekly raffle. All you have to do is like the image and you will become eligible to win a free Christmas wreath at the end of the week.

So don't oversleep this year and wait until it is too late to take advantage of these deals.

Wednesday, September 5, 2012

Every year the age old debate of Real Christmas Trees vs. Artificial Christmas Trees surfaces. Is an artificial tree better than a real tree? There are many schools of thought but ultimately, it boils down to what each of us is looking for in a Christmas tree.

2011 Christmas in front of our real Christmas Tree

Growing up we always had a real tree. I remember either going to a local tree farm or a local tree lot in search of the perfect tree. The smell of pine always brings back many nostalgic memories of Christmases past. As an adult I have never strayed from that family tradition of having a real tree for Christmas. A real Christmas cannot be had without a real tree.

You may call me sentimental or a traditionalist, but recently I read an article, titled Carlucci's Bill Puts Warning Tags on Christmas Trees, about New York Senator David Carlucci, who is working on passing a bill to put warning labels on artificial Christmas trees and any holiday decorations containing lead that are sold in New York State. California already passed a similar bill some years back. Carlucci is quoted saying, "Right now in the U.S., about 85 percent of artificial Christmas trees are made in China. Many of them contain PVC (polyvinyl chloride), plastics, which is a material that can really cause harm to young children, to pets.” Plastic material, typically PVC, can be a potential source of hazardous lead."

Being a traditionalist, in this case, seems to be the way to go. Not only am I supporting our U.S. Christmas tree farmers but I am keeping my kids and pets safe too.

Thursday, December 1, 2011

Last year in June you may recall my blog on the American Christmas Tree Association. I was responding to an article the ACTA posted on their web-site titled, "Carbon Footprint Study Finds Artificial Christmas Trees Best for the Environment". I dedicated that blog The American Christmas Tree Association, As Fake as Their Christmas Trees to refuting the false claims of the ACTA.This year I was surprised to see the ACTA has changed its tune.

The article below which draws its information from the ACTA web-site is now saying both real and artificial Christmas trees are a green choice. Why this self-contradiction one year later? The only thing which comes to mind is the old English proverb, "If you can't beat them, join them". The ACTA is starting to come around. Next year real Christmas trees should have another ally.

Tuesday, November 29, 2011

Michigan Christmas tree growers are donating 1,100 real Christmas trees in an effort to help military families celebrate the upcoming holiday. The Christmas SPIRIT Foundation in cooperation with FedEx and the Michigan Christmas Tree Association announce a Trees for Troops program that will provide farmgrown Christmas trees to more than 16,000 troops and their families. The program expects to deliver its 100,000th Christmas tree this season since the program’s inception in 2005.

FedEx will pick up 300 of the 1,100 trees donated by Michigan growers at 10:00 am on November 29 at Dutchman Tree Farms, located at 9689 W. Walker Rd., Manton, MI 49663. These trees will become part of the more than 16,000 donated fresh Christmas trees for the Trees for Troops effort. The Michigan-grown trees loaded at Dutchman Tree Farms are destined for Fort Hood.

The Trees for Troops program will first collect, and then deliver the fresh Christmas trees to families at 63 military bases across America. The Trees for Troops program provides a way for all Americans to show their appreciation for the sacrifices that U.S. troops and their families are making this holiday season.

Members of the National Christmas Tree Association (NCTA) and at least 20 state or regional Christmas Tree Associations are donating the Christmas trees. FedEx is providing free shipping. The Christmas SPIRIT Foundation – based in Chesterfield, Mo, is a not-for-profit foundation that advances the Christmas spirit for children, families and the environment. Trees for Troops is just one of its projects.

For more details, go to www.ChristmasSpiritFoundation.org. Consumers that are interested in supporting the Trees for Troops program and the Christmas Spirit Foundation can make a contribution on-line at: www.ChirstmasSpiritFoundation.org.

Many Michigan Choose & Cut Christmas tree growers will also be accepting contributions for the Christmas Spirit Foundation and to support Trees for Troops at their farms throughout the Christmas season.

To make arrangements for on-site interviews and photos during the scheduled pick up of trees, contact Chris Maciborski at Dutchman Tree Farms: (231) 839-7901 or Marsha Gray at the Michigan Christmas Tree Association:(517)242-1630 (cell)

Wednesday, November 9, 2011

That is right! I am announcing a Twitter Christmas Bake Off for all our Twitter followers.
Our Facebook Fans have a weekly opportunity to win a free Table-top Christmas tree or Christmas wreath by posting on the Dutchman Fan Page, but our Twitter followers had nothing... until now!
This idea was not all mine. Kathy H. (@truckinwife) helped me come up with it. I tweeted how I had just made pumpkin bread and olive oil bread. Kathy responded and then we came up with the idea for a Twitter Bake Off. Following Jessa Irene's blog and tweets (@HolidayHaven) also helped this idea come to life.
So, enough of my babble. Let's get down to the rules on how you could win a free Fraser Fir Table-top Christmas Tree or a Fraser Fir Christmas wreath:

The drawings will be on Wednesday. If you win you will receive a congratulatory e-mail from me (socialmedia@dutchmantreefarms.com). I will need you to send my your choice of tree or wreath and a shipping address (No PO Boxes... and has to be within the continental USA).Good Luck!Buy a fresh Christmas Tree online at http://www.atreeforchristmas.com. Shipping is Free!